JONATHAN POWERS HAMILTON

HAMILTON, SMITH, GAINES, DRAKE, BAKER, HOPTON, LEWIS, ALEXANDER, CORNELIUS, SPRAGUE, PEARCE, GAINES, KELLEY

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 12/27/2009 at 18:24:21

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, March 7, 1912

JONATHAN P. HAMILTON passed away at his home in north Leon Monday morning
about three o'clock after a lingering illness. The funeral services were
held Wednesday morning, Rev. F. Edwards, of Osceola, formerly Pastor of the
Leon Baptist church, being in charge. Interment followed at the Shy
Cemetery northeast of Leon.

JONATHAN POWERS HAMILTON, son of ROBERT and ELEANOR HAMILTON, was born in
Montgomery County, Indiana, April 9, 1829. He grew to manhood in his native
state on a farm. He came to Decatur County, Iowa, in the year, 1853,
settling in Long Creek Township, here he secured a good homestead about 2
l/2 miles southwest of Van Wert. Here he made a good farm and was
industriously engaged in raising grain and stock. He was one of the
pioneers of this county, enduring many of the privations incident to an
early settler in a new country.

The subject of this sketch was married in 1855, to MARY JANE SMITH. To this
union were born two sons and three daughters, two of three dying in infancy.
Those living are, Mrs. ANNA GAINES, of St. John, Washington; IRA S.
HAMILTON, Bridgeport, Washington, and ALVA J. HAMILTON, of Guanabacoa, Cuba.
His wife died May 4, 1866. Mr. HAMILTON was married to MARTHA JANE KELLEY,
June 9, 1867. To this union were born thirteen children, eight of whom are
living; Mrs. ELIZA DRAKE, Gibbon, Nebraska; Mrs. EMMA BAKER, St. John,
Washington; Mrs. NORA B. HOPTON, Casper, Wyoming; Mrs. ALICE LEWIS, Leon,
Iowa; Mrs. BERTHA ALEXANDER, Leon, Iowa; Mrs. NELLIE CORNELIUS, Sapulpa,
Oklahoma; Mrs. EDITH SPRAGUE, Sequim, Washington; Mrs. LA RUE PEARCE,
Rockport, Mo. Seven of the children were present.

At the age of 42 Mr. HAMILTON was converted and united with the Protestant
Methodist Church which was located near the old home. He with the family
located in Leon in 1876 and united with the Baptist Church in 1882, under
the pastorate of Rev. F. Edwards, who officiated at the funeral service. He
was an ordained deacon and was a member of the building committee when the
present church was built. Mr. HAMILTON was president of the Exchange
National Bank for a number of years and held this office until the time of
his death. He was a great sufferer for 2 1/2 years, displaying such
patience as is rarely seen, always looking forward to the time of his spirit
s release.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
December 28, 2009
iggy29@grm.net